As a self-confessed social and family history buff I was delighted to be asked to undertake a research project into the history of my employer, East Sussex law firm Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors, as part of its celebrations to mark its 125th year.

Gaby Hardwicke was founded in Hastings in 1889, so as a major part of the project I consulted local newspapers for details of court cases and other news reported that year. What I uncovered was a fascinating array of cases and news, ranging from comic to tragic, to outright bizarre.

A sad case of suicide

But the local Hastings newspapers also contain their share of tragic cases, including those who suffered the indignity of being hauled before a court for attempting suicide. As astounding as it sounds, attempting suicide was a crime in England and Wales until 1961.

The case of Rebecca Shelley, shown below, is just one of a number of attempted suicide cases heard before the Hastings courts in 1889.